Created by
Gary B. Rollman,
Emeritus Professor of Psychology,
University of Western Ontario
(In addition to links below, see weekly archives in the right column)

Friday, March 03, 2017

NYTimes: How to Block Out Pain

Pain is a personal experience, and success comes from self-management," says David Tauben, clinical professor in the department of pain medicine at the University of Washington. Respond to pain calmly — worry and fear activate the neural pathways through which pain travels and can amplify the sensations that cause it in the first place. Because pain has both mental and physical components, some researchers who study it combine psychology with the physical effects. "Be careful of negative thoughts and worrying," Tauben says. "If it's difficult to control them, find a professional to help you, like a psychologist or counselor."